Wave-power.



No. 653,27l. -Pfntd my m, |900. J. ToNKm; TH.

W A V E P 0 W E R.

(Appumion med oct. 17, 189s.)

` (No Rodel.)

'mz Norms Perzns co. maroumo.. wAsnmsYoN. u. c.`

JUAN TONKIN TH., OF IQUIQUE, CHILE.

WAVE-POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,271, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed October 17,1898.v )Serial No. 693,798- (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUAN TONKIN Th., of

ratus in which the force of waves, as of the ocean, is utilized for creating a head of water; and the object of the invention is to provide improvements in such apparatus, and more particularly in the Wave-entrapping mechanism thereof or in that mechanism by which waves are caught and retained for the purpose of creating a water-pressure supply or head.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a top plan View of one form of embodiment of my apparatus complete. Fig. II is a section on the line Il Il thereof. Fig. III is a view corresponding to Fig. II, illustrating a modified form of embodiment of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings I illustrate my apparatus as located in a cove or such an arm of the sea as affords a natural abutmentwall for three sides of A my apparatus; ,but it may be stated that the employment of my apparatus is not limited to a site of that sort, however desirable such a site may be where it is found. In such a location, 1` indicates the shore -line, 2 and 3 perpendicular side walls of masonry, and 4t an end wall joining the side walls at their respective opposite extremities. At the ends of the side walls 2 and 3, opposite the end wall I and where the cove opens toward the sea, I provide a fixed inclined plane 5, which may be made of metal-'(-for example, sheet-metal--plates 6, bolted or riveted together, as indicated at 7. This inclined plane preferably restsupon a subbase S of masonry, eXtendin g between and connecting the walls 2 and 3. Upon the same inclination with the plane 5 and preferably incorporated with it, so as to afford guides, I employ one or more sliding gates 9.` In the form illustrated four gates are shown working, respectively, in guide-frames'` 10, that constitute also a part of a frame incorporated with the plates 6. The gates 9 are provided, respectively, with threaded rods 11, each of `tice a hydraulic motor.

which is actuated by hand-wheel 13, working against a cross-bar 14., that is apertured at suitable intervals for the admission of the rods 1l and which is secured to the ends of the guide-pieces 10.

Under certain conditions, as above suggested, only one gate 9 may be required; but ordinarily I prefer a pluralityA in order that excessive weight in the gates may be avoided.

Behind the plane 5 and the gate or gates employed in connection therewith I provide a supply-tank, (indicated by 15 in Fig. Il and by 16 in Fig. III.) This supply-tank'is designed to afford a head of water from which water under suitable pressure may be supplied to a chute or chutes, (designated in Fig. II by the reference-numeral 17 and in Fig. III by the numeral 18,) as through a penstock, (indicated by 19 in Fig. Il and by 2O in Fig. III.) i

W'ithin the chute 17 or 1S is located in prac- (Not illustrated.) The penstoclr in practice is preferablyshut off from the supply-tank, as by a gate, (ndicated by 2l in Fig. II and by 22 in Fig. III.) The gate works in suitable guides in the side walls and may be raised or lowered, as by a threaded rod, handwheel, and bar, corresponding to the rod 11, hand-wheel 13, and bar 14, previously described.

The chute 17 or 18 communicates with `a discharge-tank, (indicated by 25 in Fig. II and by 26 in Fig. III.) The discharge-tank is designed to afford a low level for drawing off the water from the supply-tank and for affording a current in passing from one to the other adapted to drive a hydraulic motor located in the chute. The discharge-tank is separated from the supply-tank by a horizontal wall 27 in Fig. Il and by a vertical wall 28 in Fig. III.

In Fig. II the horizontal wall is supported upon cross-girders 29, anchored in the opposite side walls 2 and 3, respectively, and supporting the horizontal partition 27, substantially in a plane in which the upper edge of the inclined plane 5 is located.

Outlet communication from the dischargetank with the sea is afforded through numerous discharge-ports 30 (see Fig. II) or by a series of discharge-conduits 3l. (See Fig. III.)

The discharge-ports and discharge-conduits IOO - charge-ports and the discharge-conduits 31,

respectively.

The operation of my apparatus'is as follows: Suppose the mean level of the sea to be indicated at A and that waves (not illustrated) are breaking against the inclined plane 5. The gate or gates 9 are lowered until the waves will force a supply of water over it or them into the supply-tank. n The water thus supplied is held, say, at the level B in the supply-tank and may be drawn off thence through the chute or chutes 17 or 18 to the discharge-tank. The current so generated may be utilized for driving a motor located in each chute. As the tide rises the gate or gates 9 will be gradually raised by the aid of the hand-wheel 13 until high tide is reached, when the sea-level D will produce, say, a level E in the supply-tank. The rise of the level in the supply-tank will be accompanied by a corresponding rise of the level in the discharge-tank, but a proportionate difference of levels from which a current is derivable will be maintained between the two tanks.

' What I claim is- 1. The combination with a discharge-tank provided with means of preserving a low-water level therein, of a supply-tank provided with an inclined gate movable edgewise and adapted to afford means of preserving ahigher 'leveltherein 2. The combination with a discharge-*tank provided with means of preserving a low-water level therein, of a supply-tank, a series of movable inclined gates in front of the supplytank, and independent means for raising andlowering the gates, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination With a supply and a discharge tank, and means of preserving a low-water level in the discharge-tank, of a fixed inclined plane in front of said tanks,

fand a movable inclined plane, or gate coperating with said inclined plane in front of the supply-tank, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with side walls and an end wall, of a liXed inclined plane connecting the side walls near their respective ends, opposite the end wall, a horizontal partition eX- tendng between the side and end walls, and the upper edge of the inclined plane, means of preserving a low-water level below the horizontal partition, and a movable inclined gate adapted to be elevated and depressed, with respect to the upper edge of the ixed inclined plane, and to afford means of .preserving a high-water level above the horizontal partition, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' JUAN TON KIN TH. Witnesses:

S C. HOPKINS, THEO. S. HOPKINS. 

